Monday, March 4, 2013

Unholy Hunger by Heather James


What a powerful book! Beware, this is an intense book, and though a novel, deals with a serious issue – a mother pursuing the murderer of her young daughter. This is just a warning should it be a subject that would bother you.

Evelyn is a successful attorney. But then her four-year-old daughter is abducted, then found murdered and having been molested. Evelyn is consumed with revenge, wanting the life of the man who took her daughter's life. She spirals into the depths of vengeance even though her husband, friends, and the police try to keep her from that dangerous place.

This is a hard hitting novel. Heather has crafted a well written novel that invites us into the being of a mother tormented by her daughter's murder. We feel her passion to find the murderer and see that he loses his life too. We feel the evil that desires her being, driving her on in her pursuit of vengeance. We also feel the gentle tugging of the Holy Spirit as he points her in the direction God desires.

This novel is intense. It is not a cozy read. It is disturbing and thought provoking. It made me think of how quickly evil can sneak into our motives. But it also reminded me how persistent the Holy Spirit is and how the grace of God will persevere. I highly, highly recommend this book (if you can read about the murder of a child). This book is so well written, I am amazed it is a debut novel. I look forward to the next in the “Lure of the Serpent” series.

This would make a great choice for a reading book. The themes for discussion are serious and many. Again, a warning. The thoughts and actions of Evelyn as she pursues vengeance are intense. If the molestation and murder of a child would bother anyone in your reading group, well, just beware of the intensity of this book.

Read an excerpt pf the book here.

Watch the book trailer here.

Heather James is a practicing attorney and contributing columnist for the Bakersfield Californian newspaper, where she writes on marriage, family, and parenting matters. This is her first novel.

Kregel Publications, 272 pages.Publisher's product page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

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